Month: August 2023

Describe one habit that brings you joy.

I have made a daily habit out of texting my kids good morning, telling them to be careful driving and wishing them a nice day. I started doing this when my son was a freshman in college and living in the dorm. Initially my texts were to say good morning so when he answered me I knew he was awake for his first morning class. I continued that throughout his college and graduate school years and for my daughter as well. These morning greetings are my way of making sure that each of my children are in a good headspace to start their day. Sometimes it’s an inspirational quote or a Bible verse or a good luck on your big thing for the day. My kids are both in their early and mid twenties. My son already has a masters degree and is a year away from applying to medical school. My daughter is entering her final year of undergrad and is a year away from becoming an elementary school teacher. At this stage of their lives I’m less about helicoptering them and more about equipping them with the tools they need to survive in this crazy world. It’s not the text messages that bring me joy, it’s their happiness and watching them become the people God created them to be. I think I’ll be doing these morning greetings for the rest of my life.

What are you curious about?

Picture this: Super Bowl XXV January 27, 1991, Buffalo Bills vs NY Giant. My parents are hosting a Super Bowl party to cheer on our home team the Buffalo Bills. It’s the end of the game and we are standing around my parents television, holding hands and praying that Scott Norwood kicks the winning field goal. The kick is wide right and the Bills lost. Moments later the Super Bowl champion NY Giants are seen wearing their Superbowl champion tee-shirts. Did you ever wonder what the NFL does with the losing team’s Super Bowl champion tee-shirts? I mean obviously they have to haul ass and get them out of the locker room before the losers walk in. A few years ago at a social gathering, my husband and I had a conversation about what happens to the losers tee-shirts. Someone suggested they were shipped to a third world country. So, someone in a third world country believes the Buffalo Bills have won four straight Super Bowls? I have so many curiousities meandering through my brain on a daily basis but this one haunts me. Will the Buffalo Bills EVER win a Super Bowl?? I bet you didn’t know that the writer, “that nurse” of this blog thatnursewrites is a member of #BillsMafia. I bleed red and blue. I was born and raised in Buffalo. I do not live there anymore but my brother and my parents do. Every year I “Billieve” and at the end of the season when the Bills are knocked out of the playoffs, after my obscenities from the loss are no longer lingering in the atmosphere over my house, I put my big girl panties on and get on with my life.

Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.

I don’t even like when Happy Birthday is being sung to me so as an introvert and as an RN, I’ve never been one who wants to be the center of attention. I pull a carpe diem and quietly intervene when my heart tells me to and I keep my acts of kindness between myself and God. Instead I chose to thank others who do good deeds for me. People in this society who still have manners. People who pay it forward. People who serve the public with doing dirty jobs, people who risk their lives to save yours; the fire department, the police department and to our armed forces, thank you. ² “Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.” Matthew 6:2 NRSVCE

Was today typical?

Today was indeed a typical day. As usual, I dragged my sorry, tired ass out of bed at 0400. After 10 1/2 years of starting work at 0600, it’s still difficult getting up at that time. Sometimes I even have the Dolly Parton 9-5 song in my head to soften the blow. I always make sure to shift into a positive mindset with early morning prayers and affirmations when I wake up. It makes the day so much better. Sprinkle in a cup of coffee and a shower and I was out the door at 0512 arriving at the hospital at 0544. Sometimes I start at 0530, sometimes 0600. Today my shift started at 0600. All was fine until the schedule changed in one of the ORs I was preparing patients for and at the same time another one of my patients had just a sour, argumentative attitude. So I ran around for a bit until things calmed down and the rest of my shift was fine. After arriving home at 1620, I got dinner started. I tried a new recipe I found on Instagram; breakfast sliders. I served them with sweet potato tater tots and a yogurt parfait. Everyone is home and we had a nice dinner. Another shower and here I am writing this. In eight hours it starts all over again. Typical is fine.